772–774 ECCLESALL ROAD · SHEFFIELD · S11 8TB info@sheffieldveinclinic.co.uk
Condition Guide · Sheffield Vein Clinic
Varicose veins returning after previous treatment is common — and it does not mean nothing more can be done. Prof Steve Goode, NHS Consultant Interventional Radiologist at Sheffield Vein Clinic, provides specialist assessment and targeted treatment for recurrent varicose veins.
Complex anatomy accurately mapped with duplex
Full re-assessment at your first appointment
Send your enquiry directly to Sheffield Vein Clinic
EVLA, foam sclerotherapy and combination
Full cost confirmed before any procedure
Varicose veins returning after previous treatment is one of the most common and most frustrating presentations in vein medicine. Studies suggest that up to 25–30% of patients develop new or returning varicose veins within five years of treatment — regardless of whether that treatment was surgical or minimally invasive.
If you are experiencing any of the following after previous varicose vein treatment, a specialist assessment can identify why they have returned and what can be done.
Patients across Sheffield, South Yorkshire and surrounding areas — including those who have had previous NHS vein surgery or private EVLA — can access specialist re-assessment at Sheffield Vein Clinic on Ecclesall Road. No GP referral required.
There are three main reasons why varicose veins return after treatment — and identifying which one is responsible is the critical first step in planning effective further treatment.
1. True recurrence — new disease in previously normal veins
New incompetent segments developing after successful initial treatment. More likely with advancing age, prolonged standing or ongoing risk factors.
2. Residual disease — veins not fully addressed at the time
Varicose tributaries or accessory veins not treated at the initial procedure that have enlarged over time.
3. Neovascularisation — new vessel ingrowth after surgery
New channels developing at the groin following surgical stripping — bypassing the treated area and reconnecting the venous system. Less common after EVLA.
Recurrence Is Treatable
Varicose veins that have returned after previous treatment — including after surgical stripping — are very commonly amenable to further minimally invasive treatment. Modern techniques including EVLA and ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy are effective even in complex recurrent disease. Detailed duplex assessment is the essential first step.
At Sheffield Vein Clinic, Prof Steve Goode performs a comprehensive duplex ultrasound examination at your initial consultation — mapping the venous anatomy in the context of previous treatment. This includes:
This detailed anatomical re-assessment informs a precise, targeted treatment plan — addressing the specific cause of recurrence rather than repeating a generic approach. Patients are seen for this assessment at our Ecclesall Road clinic, serving Sheffield, South Yorkshire and the surrounding region.
Many patients with recurrent varicose veins assume that nothing more can be done, or that repeat treatment is not worthwhile. In most cases, this is not true.
RECURRENCE IS COMMON
Not a Treatment Failure
Studies report recurrence in 25–30% of patients within five years of varicose vein treatment. This reflects the progressive nature of venous disease — not necessarily a failure of the original procedure.
PROGRESSIVE RISK
Skin Changes & Complications
Untreated recurrent varicose veins carry the same long-term risks as primary disease — progressive skin changes, venous eczema and, in advanced cases, venous leg ulceration. Re-treatment prevents this progression.
EFFECTIVE TREATMENT EXISTS
Modern Options Work
EVLA and ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy are effective even in complex recurrent disease following previous surgery. Accurate duplex assessment is the key to selecting the right treatment for each patient’s anatomy.
Recurrent varicose veins are not something you have to live with. A detailed assessment will determine what has caused the recurrence — and what treatment is appropriate.
All three primary treatment modalities are available at Sheffield Vein Clinic — and the right combination for recurrent disease is selected based on the specific cause identified at duplex ultrasound assessment.
Where new segments of saphenous reflux are identified, EVLA is often the most appropriate treatment — even in patients who have had previous surgical stripping. Prof Goode is experienced in treating complex recurrent disease.
For smaller recurrent varicose tributaries, residual disease or perforating vein incompetence, ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is frequently the most targeted and effective approach for recurrent disease.
In many cases of recurrent disease, a combination of EVLA and foam sclerotherapy provides the best outcome — treating the main incompetent segment and remaining tributaries in a planned, staged approach.
Prof Steve Goode is a Consultant Interventional Radiologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and newly appointed Professor — bringing NHS subspecialty expertise in image-guided vascular procedures to Sheffield Vein Clinic on Ecclesall Road.
Interventional Radiology pioneered the minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided techniques now used as the gold standard in vascular medicine. Prof Goode is research-active — his clinical practice is informed by current evidence, not historical protocols.
Sheffield Vein Clinic serves patients across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Chesterfield, Doncaster and wider South Yorkshire. No GP referral required.
Answers to the questions patients across Sheffield and South Yorkshire ask most often.
A detailed duplex ultrasound assessment by Prof Steve Goode will identify exactly what is causing your recurrence — and recommend the most effective targeted treatment.
Sheffield Vein Clinic · 772–774 Ecclesall Road · Sheffield. No GP referral required. Serving South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and beyond.